Wentworth Opposes ObamaCare
San Antonio - Texas State Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, today (Monday) responded to the passage of "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" by the U. S. House of Representatives on Sunday.
"The federal government has exceeded its constitutional authority by passing a massive federal health care reform bill that threatens the financial health of current and future Texans," said Sen. Wentworth.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal health care overhaul legislation will cost $940 billion over the next decade. It is estimated that the Medicaid expansions included in the health care reform bill will result in increased spending on Medicaid, despite the fact that previous expansions have not reduced Texas' uninsured rate.
"In addition to the increased cost to taxpayers by the expansion of Medicaid, there are other provisions of the bill that are particularly harmful to Texas and Texans," said Sen. Wentworth.
The provisions which concern Sen. Wentworth include a mandate for most legal residents of the United States to obtain health insurance. Other concerns are health insurance "exchanges" through which certain individuals and families could receive federal subsidies with which to purchase health insurance and an excise tax on health insurance plans with high premiums.
"As a longtime proponent of transparency in government and opponent of big government, I hate to imagine what other potentially harmful mandates might be contained in a 2,407 page bill that has been amended so many times folks have lost track of both the number of amendments and their contents," said Sen. Wentworth.
Members of the Texas Conservative Coalition have announced plans to file bills that will reject the federal takeover of health care when the Texas Legislature convenes in January 2011.
"I believe this bill will end up in federal court," said Sen. Wentworth. "Unfortunately, taking it to court will cost taxpayer dollars, so it is a lose-lose situation all around. There is nothing good to say about ObamaCare."
"The federal government has exceeded its constitutional authority by passing a massive federal health care reform bill that threatens the financial health of current and future Texans," said Sen. Wentworth.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal health care overhaul legislation will cost $940 billion over the next decade. It is estimated that the Medicaid expansions included in the health care reform bill will result in increased spending on Medicaid, despite the fact that previous expansions have not reduced Texas' uninsured rate.
"In addition to the increased cost to taxpayers by the expansion of Medicaid, there are other provisions of the bill that are particularly harmful to Texas and Texans," said Sen. Wentworth.
The provisions which concern Sen. Wentworth include a mandate for most legal residents of the United States to obtain health insurance. Other concerns are health insurance "exchanges" through which certain individuals and families could receive federal subsidies with which to purchase health insurance and an excise tax on health insurance plans with high premiums.
"As a longtime proponent of transparency in government and opponent of big government, I hate to imagine what other potentially harmful mandates might be contained in a 2,407 page bill that has been amended so many times folks have lost track of both the number of amendments and their contents," said Sen. Wentworth.
Members of the Texas Conservative Coalition have announced plans to file bills that will reject the federal takeover of health care when the Texas Legislature convenes in January 2011.
"I believe this bill will end up in federal court," said Sen. Wentworth. "Unfortunately, taking it to court will cost taxpayer dollars, so it is a lose-lose situation all around. There is nothing good to say about ObamaCare."